Lakers’ Nick Young ready for another Kobe show

Lakers No. 1 Jordan Farmar, No. 0 Nick Young and No. 5 Steve Blake enter the practice facility in September. Young was a Kobe Bryant fan while growing up, now they’re working together out on the court . (John McCoy/Los Angales Daily News)

Los Angeles Lakers' Nick Young (0) splits the defenders Charlotte Bobcats' Jeff Taylor, left and Ramon Sessions, right, on his way to score during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. The Lakers won 88-85. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

ATLANTA >> Ask Nick Young about his favorite Kobe Bryant memory, and he’ll list nearly every milestone the Lakers’ star reached in the 2005-06 season.

Bryant’s career-high 81 points. His game-winner in Game 4 of the Lakers’ first-round series against the Phoenix Suns. Young even knew the Dallas Mavericks was the team Bryant outscored through three quarters, 62-61.

It’s an understatement that Young grew up idolizing Bryant and tracked his every move while growing up in Los Angeles and playing for Cleveland High and USC.

As the Lakers (11-12) enter tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks (12-12) at Philips Arena, Young has learned that’s far different from playing with Bryant. Through four games since Bryant recovered from a torn left Achilles tendon, Young has conceded spending too much time admiring his presence.

“Not on purpose, but you know to space out and get him the ball when there’s 10 seconds to go in the fourth quarter,” Young said. “You have to wait to see if he will pass you the ball or be Kobe.

“It’s going to be the Kobe show in the fourth quarter, but you still have to stay ready.”

The Lakers are 1-3 since Bryant’s return. Young has averaged 15.5 points at that time albeit on 39.2-percent shooting, numbers that match his season averages (15.2 points on a 38.8-percent clip).

But in the Lakers’ win Saturday against the Charlotte Bobcats, Young helped Bryant as he scored a season-high 21 points, including a pair of free throws to seal the win. Young made a pair of free throws before Bryant set him up on the next possession for a 3-pointer.

“It makes things a lot easier,” Bryant said. “Defenses have to honor some of the offensive players we have out there because they’re more than capable of making plays themselves.

“Nick in particular, he does a great job of creating his shot and getting to the rim. And they have to honor the players that are out there.”

Memory lane

It was only nine months ago that Bryant was left seething after spraining his left ankle while landing on the foot of Hawks guard Dahntay Jones.

Bryant later lamented, “I can’t get my mind past the fact that I have to wait a year to get revenge.”

When the Lakers play the Hawks tonight, Bryant still will have to wait.

“Unfortunately Dahntay Jones is not there anymore,” Bryant said, “so I’ll have to wait until somebody picks him up.”

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Jones signed with the Chicago Bulls in training camp but was waived in early October.